The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1887-05-20

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his society instead OF, II not counting IT, az
least showing certain partial'ty TOT ~
Also, she had been looking pale and worried
and eyinced tendency to irritation that Yves
quite foreign to her natural sweetness OF as
position. Now, when person on whom enc
Ii accustomed To depend for most OF that
social intercourps and those pleasant little
amenities that members OF one - value from
another, suddenly cuts of the supply without
any apparent rhyme or reason, II IL enough
to induce feeling Of wonder, not to say OF
vexation, In the breast. 1t never occurred TO
John that the reason might be that Bessie
was truly fond Of him, and perhaps uncon'
sciously disappointed that he did not show a
warmer interest In her. II, however, we were
to examine into the facts Of the case we
should probably discover that this was tho
real explanation Of the change. Bessie was
straightforward young woman, whose mind
and purposes were as clear as running water.
She was vexed with John, though she would
probably not have owned 1t even to herself
in so many words, and her manner reflected
the condition Of her mind.
"Dessie," said John one lovely day, just as
the afternoon was merging into evening"
"Bessie"-he always called her Bessie now
~ am going down to the black waffle plantac
ton by the big mealie patch. I want to seq
how those young trees are doing. II you
have done your cooking"-for Bessie had been
engaged IN making cake, as young ladies,
to their souls health, often have to do in the
colonies-"I wish you would put on your hat
and come with me. don't believe that you
have been out to-day"
"Thank you, capt. Mel" answered Bessie,
looking at him in bewitching little way she
well knew how to assume, "thank you, but
think had rather not 60 out walking" This
was what she said, but her eyes added, u am
offended with you. want to have nothing
to do with you"
every well, said John; "then I suppose
must 60 alone," and he took up his hat with
tho air of martyr.
Bessie looked through the open kitchen
door at the lights and shadows that chased
each other across the swelling bosom Of the
hill behind the house.
ut certainly is very fine," she said; fare
you going farg"
"No, only round the plantation"
"There are so many puff adders down there,
and hate snakes" suggested Bessie, by way
of finding another excuse for not coming.
ooh, I'll look after the puff adders-come
along"
"Well," she said at last, II will come, not
because I want to come. but because you
have overpersuaded me. don't know what
has come to me-" she added, with little
stamp and sudden filing of her blue eyes
with tears, u do not seem to have any will Of
my own left When want to do one thing
and you want me to do another, it is who
have to do what you want; and tell you
don't like it, Capt. Mel, and shall be very
cross out walking;" and she swept past him,
on her way to fetch her hat, in that peculiarly
graceful way that angry women can some
times assume, and left him rejecting that he
never saw a more charming or taking lady in
Europe or out of it.
He had half mind to risk it and ask her
to marry him. But then, perhaps, she might
refuse him. and that was an idea that he did
not quite take to. After our first youth few
men altogether relish the idea of putting
themselves in position that gives capricious
woman an opportunity Of first fguratively
jumping on them, and then perhaps holding
them up to the scorn and obloquy of her
friends, relations and other admirers For,
unfortunately, until the opposite is clearly
demonstrated, many men are apt to believe
that not a few women are by nature CAPRI
cious, shallow and unreliable; and John Mel,
owing, possibly, to that unhappy little expe-
rience of his youth, must be reckoned
among their misguided ranks